Mechanical musical instrument.



No. 657,081. Patented Sept. 4, 1900.

a. A. BRACHHAUSEN.

M'E GHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1900.) (N0 Medal.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

WHNESSES: l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS mi Norms PETERS co vHoro-uwo. wAsHmo oN, n cy Patented Sept. 4, moo.

N0. 657,08I. I

G. A. BRACHHAUSEN.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Shasta-Sheet -2. V Si S Q S S 3 K I 1n M Q M N a w 3 M i: Q

i 8 a S x I x Q U v Q WITNESSES: INVENTOR My fiwiwm l 631M 7% ATTORNEYS m: NORRIS PEYERS cc wuro-uwo. WASNINGTON u c No. 657,08I. Patented Sept. 4, I900. G. A. BRACHHAUSEN.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application -filed "Apr. 4, 1900.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR me Noam PETER$ co. PHOTO-LITKQ, WASHINGTON, u. c.

Patented Sept. 4, I900. G. A. BRACHHAUSEN.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. (Application filed Apr. 4, 1900.)

(No Model.)

,4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

mammal WITN ESSES ATTORNEYS cums PETERS co. PHOTO-LITHO., w

ASHINGTON, u. c

Nrrn

PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV A. BRAOH'HAUSEN, on RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,081, dated September 4, 1900.

Application filed April 4:, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsrAv A. BEACH- HAUsEN,a resident of Rahway,Union county, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments, and while the invention is particularly adapted for that character of instruments wherein separate note sheets or disks are automatically conveyed to and from operative position in the instrument the invention may be applied to any musical instrument in which its application is available.

Heretofore in the manufacture of automatic musical instruments wherein a single springdrum has been employed it has been customary to constantly rotate the driving-wheel of the instrument during the movement of the motor or spring-drum. This resulted in the note sheets or disks being stopped and started at different intervals-that is to say, there was a liability of the note-disk being deflected and brought into engagement with the rotating driving-wheel before the disk was properly clamped in operative position and was ready to play the instrument, and the result would be that a partial rotation would be imparted to the disk before the playing was started, and as'a consequence the tune would not start at the beginning thereof, nor would the instrument stop playing at the end of the tune. This defect would continue at each automatic operation of the device until the sheet or disk was properly positioned by hand in the carriage.

The object of my present inventionis to overcome this and other defects existing in the prior structures; and to this end my invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination of the parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters represent corresponding parts in the various views, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a musical instrument embodying my invention, the section being taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the Berial No. 11,417; (No model.)

spring-drum. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View of the instrument, the section being taken on lines 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. dis an enlarged detail fragmentaryseetional view of a portion of the device, the section being taken on lines 4. 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View of the same, the section being taken on lines 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view of a modified form of device embodying myinvention,a sufficient number of parts being shown to illustrate my invention. The section is taken on lines 6 b of Fig. 7 and is looking in the direction of thearrow on the said section-line. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 to 5, in elusive, of the drawings, 1 indicates the framing of the instrument in which the various working parts of the device are illustrated. Contained within this casing is a note-sheet carriage 2, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction. Motion is communicated to this carriage in any suitable manner to bring the note disks or sheets 3 carried thereby into a position to be transported to and from operative position in the instrument. In the present instance I have illustrated a rock-shaft 4, which is pivoted at its upper end in a casting 5 and is provided with an arm 6, that carries an antifrictiou-roller 7, that is adapted to project into an internal cam-groove carried upon a cam-piece 8. The lower end of the rock-shaft at is suitably connected to the carriage, so as to impart motion thereto when the rock-shaft is moved by means of the cam 8. Motion is transmitted to the cam 8 by a wheel 9, that is rigidly connected thereto, and a pawl 10 cooperates with the wheel to impart an intermittent rotary motion thereto. This pawl 10 is carried by an arm 11, fixed upon a rock-shaft 12, which has motion imparted thereto by the springdrum 18. The rock-shaft 12 has a second arm 14 rigidly connected thereto, and the free end of this arm bears against and cooperates with a locking-pawl 15. This locking-pawl is made in the form of a two-arm lever, the nose 16 of which is adapted to contact with a tooth on the wheel 9 and prevent a movement thereof in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. The other arm of this locking-pawl is adapted to be acted upon by the free end of the arm 14, so as to elevate the nose 16 of the pawl, and thus permit a full rotation of the wheel 9 in the direction of the arrow. A second locking-pawl 17 is pivoted to a fixed portion of the instrument, as indicated at 18, and is normally maintained in engagement by a spring 13. This pawl 17 projects in an opposite direction to that of the pawl 16, so as to prevent a backward movement being imparted to the stepping wheel 9. It will be observed that by this construction an oscillation of the rock-shaft 12 will simultaneou'sly move the locking-pawl 16 out of engagement with the tooth of the stepping wheel 9 and will transmit an intermittent rotary movementto said stepping wheel through the stepping pawl 10, so as to move the notesheet carriage 2. It will be understood that the cam 8 is a continuous one, so that the carriage 2 may be reciprocated in opposite directions to bring each of the note sheets or disks in the carriage into the path of the transporting mechanism, by means of which any one of the sheets may be conveyed to and from operative position in the instrument.

The note-disk raising or conveying mechanism consists in the present instance in arms 20, which are bifurcated at the outer ends, as indicated at 21 in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These arms are connected to flexible bands 22, (see Fig. 1,) each of which has its opposite end connected to a band-pulley 23, which band-pulleys are mounted upon a shaft 24. This shaft 24 is likewise provided with a band-pulley 25, which has connected thereto one end of a flexible band 26, that is conveyed over aguide-pulley 27 and has its opposite end connected to a lever 28, as indicated at 29. This lever 28 is pivoted, as indicated at 30, to a fixedbracket 31 and has an extension orsecond arm 32, that is provided with an antifrictionroller 33 at its free end. This antifrictionroller is adapted to bear upon a cam-track 34 on the drum l3,and an oscillating movement is thus transmitted to the arm 28 and to the bandpulleys and 23, and the arms 20 are conveyed up and down in accordance with the positioning of the antifriction-roller 33 upon its cam-track, and the notedisks are thus elevated from the carriage into the operative position in the instrument and are again deposited in the carriage after the instrument has been played.

Upon the shaft 21 is carried a guide-arm 35, which has an antifriction-roller 36 mounted in the free end thereof. It will be observed that when the shaft 21 is moved in the manner hereinbefore described the arm will be oscillated into and out of the path of the notedisk during its movement to and from operative position in the instrument. The action of this arm is as follows: As the note-disk is elevated into the operative position the arm 35 is simultaneously moved into contact therewith, so as to give a slight lateral deflection to the sheet or disk to prevent the same from reaching contact with the star-wheels, which vibrate the teeth of the combs 37, so that no premature playing of the instrument can take place. During the return of the note-disk to the carriage this arm is again operated with the shaft 24, so as to maintain the sheet out of contactwith the star-wheels until the sheet has reached the pointwhere there is no longer danger of such contact taking place, when the arm will pass to a position where it is out of the path of the movement of the note-disk.

The spring-drum 13 hereinbefore referred to may be wound in any suitable manner. In the present instance a winding-post 38, which is adapted to receive the usual winding-crank and is provided with a pinion 39, that meshes with the internal gear 40, is employed. The periphery of this internal gear 10 is formed as a ratchetwvheel 11, with which a pawl 12 cooperates to prevent a backward movement thereof. The wheel 40 11 is suitably connected to the inner end of the spring in the springdrum 13. The drum 13 is provided with a mutilated gear 13, the cut-away portions of which are represented at ll. This gear co operates with a pinion 45, rigidly connected to the note-disk-driving wheel 16, which is pivoted to a fixed portion of the instrument. The driving-wheel 16 is provided with an arm or laterally-projecting flange 17, which has an indenture or locking-recess 48 in the inner face thereof. Cooperating with this lockingrecess 48 is a latch or locking-abutment 19, which in the present construction is pivoted at 50 to a pin 51, carried by a bed-plate 52. This locking latch or abutment is normally maintained'in full-line position (represented in Fig. 5 of the drawings) by a spring 53. The locking-abutment is likewise provided with a nose 54, with which the clamping-rod is adapted to contact in its movement from the full-line to the dotted-line position. (Represented in Fig. 5 of the drawings.) It will be observed that when the parts are in full-line position the locking abutment or latch 19 is in the locking-recess 48 of the drivingwheel and locks the same against rotation, whereas when it has been moved to the dotted-line position by the clamping-rod the driving-wheel is free to be rotated. It will of course be understood that the clamping-rod 55 is moved in the usual or any preferred manner automatically to clamp the note-disk in the operative position. In the present instance the clamping-rod 55 is provided with antifriction-rollers 56, and each end of said rod is connected to a rod 56, which projects toward the rear of the machine, where it is operatively connected to the rock-shaft 57. The clamping-rod 55 is normally maintained in the releasing position (illustrated in Fig. 3

however, a note-disk has been elevated into the operative position by the transporting IIO mechanism, the clamping-rod will be automatically operated to clamp the note-disk in operative position.

The plain and toothed portions of the mu-' driving-wheel by the geared portion of the mutilated gear 43. It will be observed that the driving-wheel 46 will be stopped and started at the same point at every intermittent movement thereof by reason of the fact that as soon as the clamping-rod 55 starts to release the disk the latch or locking-abutment 49 will bear upon the internal face of the rim 47 of the driving-wheel, and when the locking-notch 48 thereof arrives at a point opposite'the latch it will by its spring-pressure be forced into the locking-recess to retain the driving-wheel against rotation. An examination of Fig. 4 of the drawings will indicate that this lockin g takes place immediately after the pinion is out of mesh with the geared portion of the mutilated gear 43. On the other hand, as soon as the clamping-rod is moved into operative position the locking-latch will be antomatically moved With it to the unlocking position (representedin dottedlinesin Fig. 5,) and When the driving-wheel has been released in this manner the geared portion of the mutilated gear 43 will immediately come into mesh with the pinion to rotate the drivingwheel, and thus transmit motion to the notedisk 3.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings I have shown a somewhat different arrangement for accomplishing the same end. In these figures 6O designates the spring-drum, which is.

provided with a mutilated gear 61. Cooperating with the gear 61 is the pinion 62, which is connected to rotate with the notediskdriving wheel 63. The driving-wheel 63, together with its pinion, is loosely mounted on a pivot 64, carried by a lever 65, which is pivoted at 66. This lever extends beyond its pivot, and the extended portion is pivotally connected, as indicated at 67, to a link 68. The opposite end. of this link 68 is pivotally connected, as indicated at 69, to a depending arm or bracket 70, which is connected to one of the rods 71, which transmits motion to the clamp-rod 72. The inner end of each of the arms 71 is provided with an abutment 73, with which a wiper-arm 74 cooperates to move the clamping-rod 72 against the tension of its springs 75, it being understood that the arms 74 are connected to a rock-shaft 76, which is moved in any suitable manner from the drum 6O. It will be observed that the movement transmitted to the clamping-rod will by thesemeans be communicated to move the drivingwheel and its pinion bodily around their pivot 66. The driving-wheel 63 is provided with a laterally-extending flange 77 in some what the same manner as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This flange is likewise provided with a locking-recess 7 S, which is adapted to receive a fixed pin or looking projection 79. This pin is rigidly carried upon the bedplate 80 or some other fixed portion of the instrument,and as the driving-wheel is moved bodily around the pivot 66 it will cause an engagement or disengagement of the locking pin and recess in accordance with the direction in which the driving-wheel is moved. The blank portion 81 of the mutilated gear is so placed with relation to the movement of the parts that it will reach the pinion 62 when a movement of a note-disk to and from operative position in the instrument is taking place and when the clamping-rod 72 is in the releasing position, as indicated in the drawings. It will be observed that at this time the locking-pin is seated in the locking-recess 77 and no rotary movement of the driving-wheel can take place. When, however, the rock-shaft 76 is vibrated to move the arm 74 in the direction of the arrow y in Fig. 6, the rods 71 will receive a correspondingmovement to move the clamping-rod 72 in order to clamp the note-disk in operative position. This same movement will cause a corresponding movement to be transmitted to the link 68, and will thus force the driving-gear in the direction of the arrow 00. This movement imparted to the driving-wheel will cause the projections 82 thereof to be projected into the cooperating apertures in the note-disk and will simultaneously release the driving- Wheel from the fixed locking-pin 79. As soon as this movement has taken place the drum will have completed its movement through the plain portion of the mutilated gear and will have brought the tooth portion thereof into engagement with the pinion 62, when a rotary motion will be transmitted to the driving-wheel to effect a playing of the instrument.

It will be observed that by my invention the driving wheel will be automatically locked and maintained against rotation during the movement of the disks to and from operative position and until the note-disk is properly clamped in place and is ready to play the instrument, when the driving-wheel will be automatically unlocked and rotated to transmit a playing movement to the note sheet or disk. the construction herein shown and described no movement can possibly be transmitted to the note sheet or disk by the driving-wheel until the sheet or disk is properly secured in.

playing position.

While I-have described with considerable detail two forms of the device embodying my invention, I would have it understood that;

It willlikewise be seen that by various changes in detail and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention and in order to adapt the invention to various forms of mechanical musical instruments.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving wheel adapted to engage and transmit motion to a note-sheet, means for transmitting motion to said driving-wheel and means adapted to enter into locking engagement with the drivingwheel and to lock it against movement.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sl1eet-driving wheel, automatic means for intermittently transmitting motion thereto and means for automatically and intermittently entering into looking engagement with the driving-wheel to lock said driving-wheel against movement.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a spring-motor, a note-sheetdriving wheel, automatic means operable from said motor for intermittently transmitting motion to the driving-wheel and means for automatically and intermittently locking said driving-wheel against movement, said locking means being controlled by the motor.

l. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving Wheel means for operating said driving wheel, means for conveying separate note-sheets to and from operative position in the instrument, mechanism for clamping a note-sheet in operative position and means cooperating with the clamping mechanism for locking the driving-wheel out of action.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving wheel, means for automatically and intermittently operating said driving-wheel, means for automatically conveying separate note-sheets to and from operative position in the instrument, mechanism for automatically clamping a note-sheet in operative position and means controlled by the clamping mechanism for locking the driving-wheel out of action.

6. In a mechanical musicalinstrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving wheel, means for operating said driving wheel, means for conveying separate note-sheets to and from operative position in the instrument, mechanism for clamping a note-sheet in operative position and a locking-abutment carried by a fixed portion of the instrument, which locking-abutment is in engagement with the driving-wheel to maintain the same against movement when the clamping mechanism is ineffective to maintain a note-sheet in operative position.

'7. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving wheel, means for automatically and intermittently operating said driving-Wheel, means for automatically conveying separate note-sheets to and from operative position in the instrument, mechanism forautomatically clampinganotesheet in operative position, a locking-abutment carried by a fixed portion of the instrument which locking-abutment is in engagement with the driving-wheel to maintain the same against movement when the clamping mechanism is ineffective to maintain the notesheet in operative position and is out of engagement therewith when the clamping mechanism is effective to maintain the note-sheet in operative position and automatically-operated means controlled by the clamp mechanism for effecting the locking and release of the driving-wheel.

8. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving wheel adapted to engage and transmit motion to a note-sheet, said drivingwheel having a king-reeess therein, a locking-abutment adapted to be received in said recess and to be withdrawn therefrom and means for automatically bringing the locking-abutment and lock ing-recess into engagement to lock the driving-wheel against rotation.

9. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving wheel, a pinion for said driving-wheel and a mutilated driving-gear adapted to mesh with said pinion to transmit intermittent motion to the driving-wheel.

10. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of a note-sheet-driving wheel, a pinion for said driving-wheel, a mutilated driving-gear adapted to mesh with said pinion and to transmit motion to the driving-wheel and means for locking the driving wheel against rotation when the pinion thereof is out of mesh with the drivingavheel and for unlocking the driving-wheel when the pinion thereof is in mesh with the driving-wheel.

11. In a mechanical musiealinstrument the combination of means for conveying separate note-sheets to and from operative position in the instrument, means for clamping a notesheet in operative position, a note-sheet-drivingwheel, apinion for said driving-wheel and a mutilated driving-gear adapted to mesh with said pinion to transmit motion to the drivingwheel when the clamping mechanism is effective to maintain the note-sheet in operative position and to be out of mesh with said pinion when the clamping mechanism is ineffective to clamp a note-sheet in operative position.

12. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of means for conveying separate note-sheets to and from operative position in the instrument, means for clamping a notesheet in operative position. a note-sheet-driving wheel, a pinion for said driving-wheel, a mutilated driving-gear adapted to mesh with said pinion to transmit motion to the drivingwheel when the clamping mechanism is effective to maintain a note-sheet in operative position and to be out of mesh with said pinion when the clamping mechanism is inell'ective to clamp a note-sheet in the operative position and means for lockin g the driving-Wheel against rotation when the pinion thereof is out of mesh with the driving-wheel.

13. In a mechanical musical instrument the combination of means for conveying separate note-sheets to and from operative position, means for clamping a note-sheet in operative position, a note-sheet-driving wheel having a locking-recess therein, a pinion for said driving-wheel, a mutilated driving-gear adapted to mesh with said pinion to transmit an intermittent motion to the driving-Wheel and a pivoted locking latch or abutment adapted to engage in recess of the driving-wheel and to be controlled in its movement by the clamp ing mechanism.

GUSTAV A. BRAOHHAUSEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. SMITH, HANS v. BRIESEN. 

